Friday, May 1, 2009

Legislators spend a lot of time on the House floor, and they spend a lot of time talking.

With 98 people talking endlessly for hours on end, funny stuff gets said. On both sides of the aisle.

Rep. Jeannie Darneille has become a bit famous for her compilations of funny quotes and mishaps on the House floor. Below is a small sampling for your reading pleasure.

President Truman was a fan of mine. - Jim Moeller

Mr. Speaker, I suggest that we will need to take our pants off. We’ll need to take our pants off and buy a pair that is about three sizes smaller. This is not a sufficient belt tightening bill, Mr. Speaker. - Gary Alexander

The first speaker did a good job of explaining the bill. Now I’d like to re-explain it. - Larry Crouse

This bill will help small mayors. - John Driscoll

I’m happy to speak eloquently on this issue. - Christine Rolfes

In the interest of brevity, I’ll try to be brief. - Ross Hunter

This bill is about service dog training for state employees. - Sam Hunt

In 2007, Americans discarded TVs, computers, cell phones, and all of their accompanying accessories totaling about 2.5 million tons, according the US Environmental Protection Agency. Among their components are several toxic substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium and brominated flame retardants. And those numbers are unfortunately only growing.

To tackle the growing problem, Rep. Zack Hudgins led an effort last year to establish an e-waste program that provides manufacturer-funded free recycling of computers, monitors, laptops, and televisions for households, charities, small businesses, school districts, and small governments.

Since the program began, Washington consumers have recycled over 9 million pounds of electronics.

A detail left unclear in the law, however, left electronics-collecting businesses uncertain about what to do with fully functioning computers. After meeting with and receiving feedback on the program, Hudgins revisited the issue this year, introducing House Bill 1522 that allows electronics-collecting businesses to sell or donate fully functioning computers before relying on recycling.

So while supporters hovered close by to take in the ceremonial moment, Governor Chris Gregoire signed into state law Wednesday Zack's bill supporting greater re-use and recycling of electronics and component equipment.

“This is smart public policy, and a win-win for our state," said Zack. "Not only are we keeping harmful toxins out of landfills, we’re helping support a small but growing green business that’s creating more and more jobs.”

For more information on the How's, What's and Where's of E-cycling in Washington, visit the state Department of Ecology’s website here.

If you watched us on TVW last night, or followed legislative news in the blogosphere, you know there are still some issues left on the table. Legislators will have to come back for a special session but as of 10:41 this morning we don't have any details on when that will be.

Many legislators will now be packing up and heading to their district offices. And catching up on sleep.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Today is the 105th day of the 105-day legislative session and bleary-eyed members of the House are gearing up for the final push to Sine Die. The biennial operating and transportation budgets have already been sent to the Governor's desk, along with hundreds of other bills.

Still be be resolved, however, are disagreements between the House and Senate over amendments hung on one another's bills, and passage of the bonds needed to support the capital and transportation budgets.

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